In 1991, the devastating flashflood in Ormoc gave horrors to the people of Leyte, the whole nation and even the whole world. It was in the morning of November 5, 1991 when tropical storm Uring swept Eastern Visayas resulting to a flashflood of mud, water, and logs. The disaster killed thousands of people tallying to 4,922 killed in the flashflood alone while 3,000 more missing and presumed dead. In an article by Lottie Salarda in Interaksyon, Marcelina Arcayan, 65, of Bonifacio Street in Barangay Malbasag recalled the horror accounts which happened 23 years ago. Arcayan said she remembered her children were all very small when the tragedy happened. She told herself if the water continued to rise, she would wrap her three children in a blanket to save them. According to her, the water rose in a matter of seconds and swept through the city. Her family was able to survive by climbing the second floor of a neighbor’s house. However, nothing was left of her home. She said the water rose so fast because of the illegally cut logs clogged on the river upstream. The water rushed to the city resulting to the death of thousands of people. When the water subsided, she saw how the ground was covered in thick mud. They could not open the door of the house and could not get out. Arcayan recounted how afraid they were because there were many snakes outside the house.
The most affected area of the city was District 26 or ‘Isla Verde’ where 1,200 people were believed to have died. The city government recorded 14,000 destroyed houses; more than Php600 million worth of damaged properties. The 3,000 missing persons were never found. Due to the intensive flooding, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted flood mitigation projects in the city. Slit dams and bridges were constructed for landslide reduction and improve the drainage of the major rivers of the city. In addition, the local government conducted reforestation projects in the Ormoc watershed since 1991. The city government, on the other hand, used Geographic Information System in infrastructure, housing and road widening projects.
On its 23rd commemoration, residents of Ormoc marched to the mass grave where the victims were buried. They staged a candle lighting ceremony at Anilao River to commemorate the tragic disaster which happened more than two decades ago.
Maria Lanie A. Maquimot
1991 FLASH FLOOD
The 6.5 magnitude earthquake that recently devastated Ormoc City was indeed a horrible experience not only to our school children but to Lake Danao Elementary and Cambantog Primary School teaching force as well, and to the whole community in general. Its aftermath is beyond bearable considering there are still aftershocks being felt until now and the continuous pour of rain has even made the soil in the nearby mountains prone to more landslides. That nature-made calamity somehow made us realize that we are not that lucky to be in that breathtaking and picturesque area. The fault line that I often hear has no great impact to me on what catastrophe it would bring the moment it will happen not until that 6th day of July 2017 at around 4 pm when we ran for our lives and a moment of delay would cause a thing that we will forever regret. With God’s grace, we were still lucky to reach our home safe and sound. The plan of the city government to relocate the school and the residents of Barangay Lake Danao because the lake is a protected area is a blessing and may the recent situation of the residents amidst cracked lands, landslides and partially damaged houses expedite the realization of this wonderful plan before it becomes too late.
The last 2 weeks seemed like a nightmare, the mere thought of it now is like a sword that slowly tears apart my whole being, I never thought it would be that bad, leaving most of us devastated, hurt and broken, the loss of each one of us is beyond imaginable. Maybe we just differ in degree but we do share the same pain, simply because we are all victims in that monstrous, natural revenge of nature. However, the help and support extended by everybody was entirely overwhelming to my family, loved ones, relatives, in-laws, friends, classmates or batchmates, thank you from the bottom of my heart and to EDC Co. & EDC kapamilya of Negros and Dumaguete, we will always forever be grateful. I do believe in the saying there’s always a rainbow after the rain. Hopefully in God’s perfect time, all of us we’ll be able to get back on our feet again and be able to face other trials that will come our way ‘cause to be honest, I’m still in search of an answer of what I’m going to when classes resume? With no classroom to conduct classes and nothing to be use during the teaching process? Back to the very beginning for sure would be the best answer. Well, it would definitely take all my time and effort, so please help me God.
Maria Lanie A. Maquimot
2017 EARTHQUAKE
